Cup positioning apparatus



CUP POSITIONING APPARATUS Filed June 21. 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 6 14 .Il I

' ATTORNEY June 14, 1949. A, A QU|MPER CUP POSITIONING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 21, 1947 IJ INVENTOR BYv; Q

AT-IIORNEY n Patented June 14, 12949 UNiTp'f' apricot-,i

our PosrrloNrNG APPARATUS f Y' Anthony A. Quimper, Westfield, Mass., assignor to 'Vlestingfhouser` Electric "Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporationv of'Pe'nnsylvania Application June121,-1947, Serial No. '156,280 I 2 claims-- (ci. 22S- 21) l This invention relates to beveragedispensins apparatus, and particularly to apparatusof thetype wherein a paper cup is automatically dropped beneath a dispensing nozzle where it is t h a position to be readily removed by the cusf A further object is to provide such a meansv which is easily constructed, reliable in operation, easily replaced or repaired, and which does not interfere with the ready removal of thefilled cup,from its position .beneath vthe dispensing nozzle These and other objects are effected by my invention as will be apparent from the following description and claims taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this, application, in which:

Fig, 1 is a front perspective view of a cup station embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line II-II of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line III-III of Pig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modification of the invention.

In the drawings, Ill denotes a portion of the front wall of a beverage dispensing apparatus.

Within this wall, at a height suitable for ready access by the customer. is a cup station Il comprising a generally rectangular box-like member having a bottom drain platform or wall I2 provided with suitable perforations I3. A beverage dispensing nozzle I4 projects to some degree through the top wall i5 of the cup station.

' A chute I8 guides paper cups Il from a suitable automatic cup dispensing mechanism (not shown) to a platform I8 disposed beneath nozzle I4. The platform I8 may be suitably attached to a side wall of the cup station II as by a strap I9. A cup guide comprises a strap portion 2| attached to a side wall of the cup station and havlng at its outer end one or more curved portions 22 which serve as stops against which the cup strikes when it falls from the chute I8. If two curved portions 22 are provided, as shown, they should be so spaced that one or more fingers of the customers hand mayv grasp the cup between -the stop members. As will` be apparent from an inspection of the drawings, the curved portions 22 encircle the cup only enough to steady it and not so much as to interfere with ready removal of the cup. Under some conditions the-platform I8 may be omitted and the'cup may rest directly on the drain platform I2.

The structure heretofore described is more. .or

less conventional and often works satisfactorily. However, in automatic beverage vending equipment, it is important that the cup-positioning device work, not most of the time, but every time. Otherwise, customer dissatisfaction and resentment against the machine are created. Paper cups, in dropping the distance between the dispensing mechanism and the platform beneath the nozzle, are erratic in their performance because of their light weight and friction with the chute. Often they tend to tilt toward the front of the machine after striking the yplatform or the circular guide members. Any deflector or guide placed in front of the cup must be such that it will not interfere with the ready removal of the filled cup by the customer. Such guides have heretofore often comprised rigid members attached to a door or window in front of the cup station which door or window has had to be opened or raised by the customer before the cup could be removed. The provision of such a door or window has not proved wholly satisfactory in practice because of the time consumed in their operation by the consumer at times of peak demand. y y

I have discovered that the addition of a horizontally disposed resilient finger in front of the cup, properly located and spaced, and attached to the cup station, provides a simple, reliable and operable device for preventing forward tilting of a cup when it strikes the platform and guide members.

Such a finger is indicated at 23. It is here shownas a rather long and narrow, resilient and fleiibire member attached by bolts or rivets 24 to 'a bracket 25 which in turn is attached to a side wall of the cup station II adjacent the discharge end of chute I6. Preferably, the unat- Y finger just touches the cup's outer surface. Also the ringer is preferably so located that it contacts the upper portion of the cup, that is,` above its horizontal center line.

The linger 23, being resilient, acts as a bumper which prevents the cup from tilting forward. Also, because of its ilexibie construction, it permits ready removal of the iilled cup by the consumer using only one hand.

Materials which may be used for the flexible iinger include thin sponge rubber, or plain rubber, or plastic rubber-like materials such as the vinyl compounds. Also, spring steel or other resilient :ilexible metal'may be used.v In the embodiment of Fig. 4 the nger 23a comprises a member which may or may not be iiexible but is so mounted as to be resilient and is movably mounted with respect to its support. Specifically, the linger 23a is resiliently mounted on a bracket 25a through the intermediary of a spring pressed hinge comprising a pin 3u and a light spring 3i encircling the pin and pressing the member 23a against a stop 32 formed on the outer end of the bracket 25a. The stop so positions the member 23a that it is very close to or in light contact with the cup when it is in beverage-receiving position. The spring 3| is light enough so that the filled cup can be readily removed past the member 23a.

It will 'be seen from the foregoing that the invention provides a simple and reliable construction for aiding in the proper positioning of a paper cup beneath a dispensing nozzle. It will be further seen that the construction is such that there is no interference with the ready removal of the filled cup from the station by the' customer. It will also be seen that the construction is such that it may be used with a dispensing station having no door or window, but that such a door or window may be provided if conditions so require, without in any Way aiIecting the operationfof the cup stabilizing construction.

While I have shown my invention in several forms, it will be Obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modiiications without departing from the spirit thereof.

What Iclaimis:

1. In a beverage dispensing apparatus.meansV for positioning a single paper cup beneath a dispensing nozzle when it is dropped from a stack of cups through a chute to a position below the nozzle, said means comprising a' platform on which the cup is received, guide means partially encircling the cup, and yieldable means disposed in front of the cup in its dropped position and against which the cup may strike to assume a normal beverage receiving position. said yieldable means comprising a horizontal disposed relatively narrow member having an inner end xedly attached to a surface adjacent the discharge end of the chute and an outer unattached end disposed iust beyond the vertical center line of the cup when the cup is in its normal beverage-receiving position.

2. In a beverage dispensing apparatus, means for positioning a single paper cup beneath a dispensing nozzle when it is dropped from a stack of cups through a chute to a position below the nozzle, said means comprising a platform on which the cup is received, guide means partially f encircling the cup and yieldable means disposed in front of the cup in its dropped position and against which the cup may strike to assume a normal beverage receiving position, said yieldable means comprising a horizontal disposed relatively narrow finger-like member having an inner end xedly attached to a surface adiacent the dis- 'charge end of the chute and an outer unattached end disposed just beyond the vertical center line of the cup when the cup is in its normal position, said flexible resilient finger also having its outer end disposed at least as high as the horizontal center line of the cup when the cup is in its normal beverage-receiving position.

ANTHONY A. QUIMPER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ie of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,215,411 Sebring Sept. 17, 1940 2,321,844 Nicholson June' l5, 1943 

